Good Night and Good Luck!!!

I'm not talking about the new George Cluney movie on Edward R Murrow and Joe McCarthy, but rather the latest drama from our new Prime Minister and his evolving (or is it revolving) list of staffers (although it makes good material for a movie!)

The recent firing of his communications director (4th since becoming leader) shows a potential issue looming in the background - i'm just not sure whether its a good one or a bad one.

Getting rid of a communications director is not a bad thing - particularly early on if it's discovered they are not the right fit for the job, not able to handle the pressure of the job or some combination of both.

Being the communications director for the Prime Minister of Canada is a job not designed for the light-hearted and requires a level of dedication beyond any level most of us will ever be asked to achieve.

Despite was some anti-political types say, communications professionals play an important role within the political environment.

Communication is at the very cornerstone of the Canadian political system and managing that function, so it clearly outlines direction, is critical to ensuring Canadians understand where their elected representatives are heading on any issues.

However, if the latest firing is based on the Prime Minister's "greater" understanding of communications, I am a little worried.

As Don Martin wrote in his column this morning, firing one is no big deal. Firing four is a pattern. As well, given the Prime Minister's track record of fading in and out of the media limelight as leader of the opposition, coupled with the recent Emerson/Fortier blunders, one wonders if the Prime Minister isn't trying to manage issues by blaming someone else.

As well, by naming the head of the Conservative Party's war room in the recent election campaign as his new Director of Comms, the Prime Minister is sending a strong message that communications from the PMO will be extremely political - this despite campaigning on a platform of non partisan, and open and transparent government.

So we'll have to wait and see how this latest drama unfolds and whether it helps to kill the other blunders the PM and his team have faced in the early days. the good thing is it's still the early days. The bad thing is it might be another pattern forming.

William Stairs can run off and write his tell all book "Inside the Harper Government - the first 14 days" and Sandra Buckler can assume the role of spoon feeding journalists with the message of the day.

Loyalty - More Important than Riches or Fame

So this post is about two recent defections from political parties that have stirred conversations at watercoolers everywhere in New Brunswick. One defector is a national figure who, thorugh his actions, showed political opportunism is running rampid through his veins. The second showed that even the "nice guys finish last" guy can only take so much crap before saying enough is enough.

David Emerson, in an interview Saturday stated he coninues to have a clear conscience after leaving the liberal party banner he was elected under to become the Minister of International Trade.

I read a great analogy lately that said its the same as Team Canada arriving in Torino and, because he didn't like their chances, Manager Wayne Gretzky runs over pulls off his Team Canada sweatshirt and throws on a sweater for Finland.

What Emerson did was just plain wrong and he should belly up, resign and go back to the people that elected him to ask for thier support again, under a different team. He says he entered politics to make a positive contribution to Canada. Start by becoming a politician with integrity - that would be a very positive contribution to Canada.

Speaking to CTV's question period Emerson stated; "The truth of the matter is, when I came into politics I came in as a Paul Martin Liberal, I was not a political person. I'm still not much of a political person, as perhaps you can now tell . . . . I'm not the sharpest political knife in the drawer, I quite freely admit that."

Maybe he is starting to get it.

The second defection came Friday when Mike "Tanker" Malley quit his progressive conservative caucus in New Brunswick to sit as an independent. This is a man, no matter what you think of him, who showed loyalty beyond the call of duty a couple of years ago facing angry mobs - upset over decisions made by the Lord Government.

Now, continuing with his wild political antics that have made him one of the more colourful provincial politicians, he has made a decision that has taken the Lord government from Majority to Minority - literally overnight.

Malley quit after being passed over again for cabinet positions and other political prizes.

And while Lord really had no political choice in his recent cabinet shuffle leading in to an already anticipated election, it's a tough position to be in.

While Malley may soon regret his decision, the reaction by Premier Lord now forces Malley to remain an independent and probably vote against the government is its upcoming budget speech. That will force an election which very well may end the Lord government's seven year run.

Do you show loyalty to those who stood by you - even if it is not the politically correct thing to do?

So we have David Emerson who wasn't loyal to the party that got him elected trying to stave off ongoing calls for his resignation and Bernard Lord, who by not showing loyalty to the friends that stood by him, may pay the ultimate political price.

Seems like being disloyal is a sure fired way to end a career.

At least those who remain loyal are sleeping each night.